Ruble

The ruble or rouble (/ˈruːbəl/; Russian: рубль; IPA: [rublʲ]) is or was a currency unit of a number of countries in Eastern Europe closely associated with the economy of Russia. Originally, the ruble was the currency unit of Imperial Russia, and it is currently the currency unit of Belarus, Russia and the partially recognized states of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. The rubles of Belarus, Russia and Transnistria are distinct currencies. In the past, several other countries influenced by Russia and the Soviet Union had currency units that were also named rubles. One ruble is divided into 100 kopeks (Russian: копе́йка, tr. kopeyka; IPA: [kɐˈpʲejkə]).

Etymology

Origins

According to one version, the word "ruble" is derived from the Russian verb рубить, rubit, i.e., to cut, to chop, to hack, as ruble was considered as a cutout piece of a silver Gryvna.

In Russian:

Рубли были частями гривны или кусками серебра с зарубками, означавшими их вес. Каждая гривна разделялась на четыре части; название же рубль произошло от слова «рубить», потому что прут серебра в гривну весом разрубался на четыре части, которые и назывались рублями.